Paisley Parts of Speech

This center is a great way to review Parts of Speech with your students in preparation for a test.  Here are the products I used...

• FLP30045LB - Light Blue 3X4 Tri-Fold Board (I cut it in half, that way you get two games out of one!)
• CTP6511 - Paisley on Brown Trimmer
• T1789 - 2" White Stick EZ Letters (I cut apart the blue paisley pockets in the package to create the backing for the title.)
• CTP6921 - Paisley Doodles Library Pockets
• TNT3512 - Assorted Flash Cards (Cut down to fit in the pockets, they come a little long.)
• TNT6450 - Brite Jumbo Library Pockets
• CTP4916 - 2" Dots on Turquoise Letter Stickers (The paper behind the worksheet pocket and the directions is the library pockets cut apart and glued together.)

The directions on the right side are hard to see so I have included them below...

1. Remove all the cards from the pockets.
2. Read the sentences on each card.
3. Determine if the word in bold is a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
4. Place the card in the appropriate pocket.
5. Complete the response form and turn it in for a grade.

Here is an example of how the sentences are written on the cards...

Anna Brooke laid her head on the soft pillow and immediately fell asleep.

Hope your students have a blast learning about Parts of Speech!

Sophisticated Syllables

Looking for a center that will teach syllables?  This game is for you!  In this game students will choose cards from the "bank" pocket.  After reading the word on the card, they will clap out the syllables and decide how many they heard.  Then they will place it in the appropriate pocket.  Here are the products I used...

• FLP30045PU - Purple 3X4 Tri-fold Board (I cut mine in half, giving me 2 games for the price of one!)
• FST3138 - Black Decor Double-Sided Trimmer
• CTP4193 - 2" Black Dot-to-Dot Uppercase Letter Stickers
• TNT6097 - Big Flowers Black and White Library Pockets
• TNT3512 - Assorted Flash Cards (Used on the front of the pockets and as the cards inside)
• CTP4630 - 1" Black Dot-to-Dot Uppercase Letter Stickers
• TNT6450 - Brite Jumbo Library Pockets (The paper behind the "Work Sheets" Title is the reverse side of the trimmer.)

In case you can't read the instructions on the right side here they are...

1. Remove the cards from the bank.
2. Read the words on each card aloud.
3. Clap out the syllables you hear.
4. Place the card in the appropriate pocket.
5. Complete the response form and turn it in for a grade.

The paper behind the instructions is the library pockets cut apart.  The fonts on the cards and for the instructions were downloaded for free online.

Sassy Sentences

Here is a center idea for identifying parts of a sentence!  The items I used are as follows...

• FLP30045OR - Orange Tri-Fold Board (I cut mine in half, 2 games for the price of one!)
• CTP1108 - Jumbo Dots on Chocolate Trimmer
• CTP4192 - 2" Dots on Chocolate Uppercase Letter Stickers
• CTP6919 - Dots on Chocolate Library Pockets
• TNT3512 - Assorted Flash Cards (I cut them down to size a little, they come a bit too long for the pockets.)
• TNT6450 - Brite Jumbo Library Pockets 
• CTP5930 - Jumbo Chocolate Dots Cutouts

As you can see the big pocket on the left is for the worksheets you will create for your students to complete.  

Here are the directions on the right side that you may not be able to see...

1. Remove the cards from the bank.
2. Read the sentences on each card.
3. Decide if the bold words in the sentence tell who/what, action, or where.
4. Place the card in the appropriate pocket.
5. Complete the response form and turn it in for a grade.

Here is an example of each kind of sentence used on the cards...

The eagle perched on a branch. (Who/What)

The eagle perched on a branch. (Action)

The eagle perched on a branch. (Where)

You could even make up your own simple sentences using the names of students in your classroom.  This makes the game even more fun!

Perfect Punctuation

More and more often it seems that as text messaging becomes more prevalent, punctuation seems to be falling by the way side.  Here is a center to remind your students that good punctuation skills are always important and fun!

Here are the products I used...

• FLP30045OR - Orange Project Board 3X4 (I cut mine in half, so you can get 2 centers out of one!)
• CTP6510 - Dots on Turquoise Paisley Trimmer
• CTP6920 - Dots on Turquoise Library Pockets
• HYG43317 - Pocket Chart Cards - Assorted (Used on the front of the pockets)
• CTP4916 - 2" Dots on Turquoise Letter Stickers
• PAC5178 - Assorted Index Cards (Used these for the sentence cards)

You can also add a jumbo library pocket (TNT6450 - Brite Jumbo Pockets) to the back of your board to hold worksheets.  The worksheet can be completed by the student after playing the game to turn in for a grade.  Another good reminder is to laminate your pockets and cards.  This will ensure that you don't have rips or tears in them as they are used by little hands.  Happy Punctuating!  :)

Polka Dot Classroom Centers

Looking for a new way to track your student's migration from center to center? Here is a fun and colorful way to display it for the class to see. Best of all it hangs on a pocket chart stand so it doesn't take up all your precious wall space! It can be rolled out of the way easily or covered up as needed. Here are the products I used...

• PAC54651E - Dark Blue Poster Board (I used to pieces that I laminated together end to end. Black Poster Board also works well.)
• CTP3804 - Poppin' Patterns Centers Signs Mini BBS.
• CTP1194 - 4" Poppin' Patterns Punch Out Letters
• CK368301 - Clothes Pins 24/Bag
• CTP5933 - Poppin' Patterns Mini Dots Cutouts

For the place holders, down the side, I used a clothespin with a student's name written on the side. Then using a glue gun I adhered the mini dot cutouts to the end of the pin. For stability, you might consider laminating the dots before gluing since they will be handled a lot. I also laminated the poster boards after I had attached the center signs.

Floral Facts

This center tests a students knowledge of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.

Here are the products I used...

• FLP30015 - Assorted Mini Project Board (Purple)
• TNT6045 - Flowers Library Pockets
• TNT3512 - Blank Assorted Flash Cards
• T46405 - Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I cut up the left over library pockets to use for the paper behind the title and cut out the flowers for the background. The font was downloaded for free online. The blank flash cards I cut down to size (they fit perfectly in the pocket, but were a bit too long). The piece I cut off the end of the flash cards I used as titles for the front of each pocket. The star stickers I used for self-checking purposes. I put a star on the front of each pocket and used the corresponding color on the cards that went in that pocket.

Another great idea when using this as a center...

Place the hot pink big pocket (looks like an over-sized library pocket) from TNT6454 - Real Big Pockets Brite on the back of the board and place a worksheet covering this skill in it. Then after students play with the center, have them complete the worksheet and turn it in. This will allow the teacher to determine whether the skill has been mastered.

Funky Fractions

Comparing fractions seems to be a skill that many students struggle to understand. This mini tri-fold will give students the practice they need to become fraction masters!

Here are the products I used...

• FLP30015 - Assorted Mini Project Board (Orange)
• TNT6043 - Glo Brite Library Pockets
• TNT3512 - Blank Assorted Flash Cards
• T46405 - Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I cut up the left over library pockets to use for the paper behind the directions and behind the title. The font was downloaded for free online. The blank flash cards I cut down to size (they fit perfectly in the pocket, but were a bit too long). The piece I cut off the end of the flash cards I used as titles for the front of each pocket. The star stickers I used for self-checking purposes. I put a star on the front of each pocket and used the corresponding color on the cards that went in that pocket. I also used them to decorate the background on the board.

The directions read...

1. Choose a card from the bank
2. Determine if the fraction on the left is greater than, less than, or equal to the fraction on the right.
3. Place the card in the pocket with the correct answer.
4. Once all the cards have been placed, turn the cards over to check your work.

Another great idea when using this as a center...

Place the blue big pocket (looks like an over-sized library pocket) from TNT6450 - Real Big Pockets Primary on the back of the board and place a worksheet covering this skill in it. Then after students play with the center, have them complete the worksheet and turn it in. This will allow the teacher to determine whether the skill has been mastered.

Wild Transformations

Who doesn't love the wackiness of the 80's? This board is inspired by the eccentric fashions of that crazy era! This mini tri-fold board is teaching a geometry skill that most 3rd-5th grade students need to understand for standardized testing.

Here are the items I used...

• FLP30015 - Assorted Mini Project Board (Black)
• TNT6378 - Zebra/Pink Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• TNT3512 - Blank Assorted Flash Cards
• T46405 - Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I cut up the left over library pockets to use for the paper behind the definitions and behind the title. The font was downloaded for free online. The blank flash cards I cut down to size (they fit perfectly in the pocket, but were a bit too long). The piece I cut off the end of the flash cards I used as titles for the front of each pocket. The star stickers I used for self-checking purposes. I put a star on the front of each pocket and used the corresponding color on the cards that went in that pocket.

Another great idea when using this as a center...

Place the hot pink big pocket (looks like an over-sized library pocket) from TNT6454 - Real Big Pockets Brite on the back of the board and place a worksheet covering this skill in it. Then after students play with the center, have them complete the worksheet and turn it in. This will allow the teacher to determine whether the skill has been mastered.

Lepre-Coins

Here is another game using the holidays as a theme when creating your centers. On many standardized tests, students are asked to write several different ways a particular sum might be counted out in change. This game teaches just that skill!

Here are the products used...

• FLP30015 - Assorted Mini Project Boards (I chose a festive Green, in honor of St. Patrick's Day).
• TNT420 - Solar Yellow Library Pockets
• PDS307 - Small Green Shamrock Cutouts
• TNT3512 - Blank Assorted Flash Cards (Cut these down to the appropriate size. They fit into the pockets, but are a bit long.)
• CD5261 - US Coins Shapes Stickers
• CD4127 - Shamrock 2-Sided Decoration (I cut out the Leprechaun to use near the title.

I created the title using a free font I downloaded online. May the luck o' the Irish be with you as you play this game!

Heart Breaker Rhyming Game

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could decorate for the special holidays throughout the season, but find that it's a lot of trouble for only a few weeks and that you're short on space? Here is the solution! Make a tri-fold center that teaches a skill your class will be working on during the season and use the holiday as your inspiration! Here I have incorporated rhyming as the skill and Valentine's Day as my inspiration! The original concept for this game is not my own and can be found on the blog listed below. I simply took the concept and translated it onto a tri-fold board, adding instructions and a few ideas of my own.

http://tommiestools.blogspot.com/2010/09/embellishments-of-heart.html

This is a blog created by Creative Teaching Press (makers of the cute hearts). You will find many wonderful ideas here that might just inspire you too!

Here are the item numbers for the board you see pictured.

• FLP30045R - Red Project Board (Cut in half using an X-acto Knife)
• CTP5885 - Poppin' Patterns Jumbo Hearts Cutouts
• T2703 - 4" Black Italic Upper & Lowercase Ready Letters
• CTP5882 - Poppin' Patterns Hearts Cutouts (Medium Sized, used a black marker to outline the break in the heart to make it pop)
• CTP6366 - Rhyming/Word Families Matching Game Books Grade K.
• CTP5879 - Poppin' Patterns Mini Hearts Cutouts
• ABC61-46 - File Folder Press on Bag (used on the back to hold the halves not affixed to the front of the board, not shown in photo)
• TNT6454 - Real Big Pockets Primary (not pictured)

Here are the instructions I posted at the bottom...

1. Remove the hearts from the bag on the back of the board.
2. Look at the pictures on each half.
3. Search for the picture on the board that rhymes with the half in your hand.
4. Place the matching pieces on the board until they are gone.
5. Remove one of the worksheets from the back of the board.
6. Complete the worksheet on rhyming and turn it in.

For the photo above, I showed the game board completed. You will wanna permanently attach one side of the heart to the board and the other half you could attach a piece of velcro or post-it type glue that will allow you to stick and re-stick. For storage, the velcro sided pieces can be kept in a zip-loc type bag on the back. Also on the back of the board I attached a red jumbo library pocket (see the last item listed). Inside the pocket I put a worksheet on rhyming for the students to complete. This will be what the student turns in and will help the teacher determine whether the concept was mastered.

Guppy Graphs

This is a Math interactive bulletin board that teaches the basics of graphing. This is a great way to teach students how to look at data and analyze their findings using a bar graph! Perfect for teaching greater than and less than in its most basic form. Here are the products I used...

• PAC57340 - Magenta Fadeless 24X12 Paper
• T92408 - Sparkle Fish Scalloped Trimmer
• T8086 - 100 Day Fish Bowl BBS
• CTP5184 - White Small Horizontal Calendar (Cut the header with the days of the week off and taped 2 of them together).
• CTP4628 - Poppin' Patterns Uppercase Letter Stickers (used for the numbers on the graph).
• CTP1228 - 7" Poppin' Patterns Punch Out Letters
• HYG43317 - Assorted Square Pocket Chart Cards (used as cover ups for graph, but post-its would work well too).

If using post its is not possible, another option is to laminate the graph and let students color in the graph with wipe-off markers. The large fish in the set come with the number 10 on them, if you think this will throw your students off, you can always find creative ways to cover them up. As with some of the other centers, include a pocket with a graphing worksheet to be completed by the student. This will help you determine if the center is effective. The directions I typed up using a font I downloaded for free online. The directions read...

- Count all the similar fish.

- Graph your findings.

Happy Fishing!

Puzzling Place Value

Here is a fun and educational math center for learning the basics of place value. This is a skill that most 3rd graders need to understand for standardized testing. Here is how the center works. All the pockets are labeled with a place value. On each card there is a 2-5 digit number. One of the digits is underlined indicating a place value. The student is to determine which place value is being highlighted, then choose the correct pocket. I put stickers on the back of each card that will act as a way for the student to self-check their work. If the sticker on the back matches the one on the pocket, their answer is correct. Below are the instructions I typed up, but you are certainly welcome to do your own or add extra elements as your students require them.

Directions:

1. Choose a number card.
2. Determine which place the underlined number is in.
3. Place card in the pocket that corresponds with that card's place value.
4. After all cards have been placed, flip them over to check your answers.

Another idea would be to attach one of the large pockets used on the front, to the back of the board. Then put a worksheet on place value in the pocket, for students to complete after working at the center. This will help you, as the teacher, determine whether or not the student mastered the skill and if additional instruction is necessary.

Here are the products I used to create this board...

• FLP30045PU - Purple Project Board
• TNT6450 - Real Big Pockets - Bright
• T10805 - Puzzle Mini Accents
• T69034 - Jigsaw Name Plates
• PAC101169 - Colorful Assorted Cardstock
• T79743 - 4" Yellow Playful Punch Out Letters

The words on the pockets I typed up using fonts I downloaded for free online. To make the title I enlarged one of the small puzzle pieces on a copy machine, to create a template that I traced onto colorful pieces of cardstock. I pieced them together to create the background and then put my title on top of it.

Psychedelic Synonyms

This mini tri-fold is for a center working on synonyms. You could also make this board with antonyms, homonyms, or other phonetic skills.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Boards (Magenta)
• TNT6044-Swirls Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• TNT3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• TNT360-Index Cards 3X5 Colored
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I wrote synonyms on the index cards and laminated them. On the back I put a star sticker that matches the appropriate pocket for self checking.

Grocery Guide Words

Here is another tri-fold center idea. This one is teaching guide words for dictionary skills as well as alphabetical order.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Board (Yellow)
• TNT6433-Red Polka Dot Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• T3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• PAC25340-Craft Sticks Regular Size
• T63337-Snack Foods Stickers
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I wrote different food words on the sticks that would go between the guide words printed on the front of the pockets. On the back of the stick I put a star sticker in the color that matched the star on the outside of the pocket which allows for self checking.

Pick A Pronoun

Here is one of the most popular tri-folds I've done. This is on a mini tri-fold board, so it's small enough to sit at a table and allow the teacher to still see the students working behind it.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Board (Light Blue)
• TNT6034-Green Polka Dot Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• TNT3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• PAC25340-Craft Sticks Regular Size
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Star Stickers (for self-checking)

The polka dot paper behind the title is one of the pockets cut apart. On each stick I put a different noun (also included proper nouns) Then on the back of the stick I put a star sticker that matched one that I put on the outside of the pocket, allowing the student to check their work.

Chilly Change

This is one of many Tri-Fold displays I've done. They're some of my favorites to do because they're so versatile. It's a perfect for a center because it can be brought out during part of the year while teaching a specific skill and stored away when the unit is over. This particular one is on counting money, specifically change.

• FLP30049-Light Blue Foam Project Board
• CD120048-Penguins/Igloos Cutout Buddies
• CD5261-US Money Coins Stickers
• FX12-742-Snowflake Prism Stickers
• White Poster Board (Drew blocks on it to give the illusion of an igloo for the background of the title.)
• T79045-Snowflake 4" Casual Letters